Garden centers and nurseries in and near Palo Alto

Palo Alto gardens are busy in every season. The climate is mild, the soil in many neighborhoods is old orchard land and the city's water rules push people toward drought-tolerant planting. Yet our directory lists only one full garden center inside city limits. That is SummerWinds Nursery on San Antonio Road, a site that has sold plants since 1960.

Because one store is not enough for a guide, this page also covers nurseries and plant sources in nearby towns and says where each one is. They include a sister SummerWinds in Cupertino, a nonprofit native plant nursery in Palo Alto's own foothills, a native specialist in Half Moon Bay and the garden departments of the hardware stores. We checked each one on its own website or store page, or in our verified directory, in late October and early November 2026.

Where to buy plants at a glance

SummerWinds Nursery, Palo Alto

SummerWinds Nursery is tucked behind the corner of San Antonio and Middlefield roads in south Palo Alto, so look for it set back from the intersection. The site opened under the Woolworth Nurseries name in 1960 and became SummerWinds in 2002. The chain runs stores in Palo Alto, Cupertino, Campbell, Dublin and Novato. Its Palo Alto store page lists hours of 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day.

The store page names its strengths and the staff experts behind several of them:

• California native plants, which the store calls its best local assortment
• Organic vegetables, plus vegetables and herbs the store says are rarely available elsewhere
• Bedding plants for seasonal color
• Perennials and specimen-quality shrubs, plus succulents and houseplants
• An extensive collection of outdoor pottery
• Organic soil, fertilizer and pest products

It also welcomes special orders and serves landscape contractors. The store says its plants are guaranteed to grow when customers follow staff advice. The chain's website also lists a Garden Coach service and a rewards program. Gift cards work at every location and do not expire.

SummerWinds Cupertino

If the Palo Alto store is out of something, the nearest sister store is at 1491 South De Anza Boulevard in Cupertino, near Highway 85, next to Dunn-Edwards Paints. It keeps the same 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily hours. Call ahead to have staff check stock. Our Cupertino guide covers the rest of the area.

Native plant nurseries

Native plants use less water once established and support local bees, butterflies and birds. Two growers near Palo Alto specialize in them.

Grassroots Ecology, Foothills Nature Preserve

Grassroots Ecology, the Palo Alto nonprofit that leads volunteer habitat work across the Peninsula, grows plants for restoration at a nursery inside Foothills Nature Preserve. It sells a selection to the public, but the nursery is not open for browsing. According to its plant sales page, you download the inventory, email your order and pick it up outside the nursery. The minimum online order is $50 and staff reply within one to three business days. Plants are grown from seed collected in specific local watersheds, from Adobe Creek to San Francisquito Creek, so they suit local microclimates. The group also sells a guide, San Francisco Bay Area Native Plants for the Garden.

Yerba Buena Nursery, Half Moon Bay

Over the hills on the coast, Yerba Buena Nursery has grown California natives since 1960 and now sits at Pastorino Farms in Half Moon Bay. Its website lists one of the larger native collections in the region, plus exotic ferns, garden design and installation. It says it is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and asks customers to check the current inventory and email orders ahead so plants are gathered for pickup. The newest dated notice we found on the site was its 2025 holiday schedule, so call or email before a long drive. Combine a visit with a coast day using our Half Moon Bay guide.

Seasonal native plant sales

The Santa Clara Valley chapter of the California Native Plant Society runs its own nursery at Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills. Its public sale is held in October, with occasional pop-up sales through the year, according to the chapter's where to buy page. Grassroots Ecology sold at the chapter's October 24, 2026 sale. Volunteers at these sales know which plants handle clay soil, shade or deer, so bring photos of your yard.

Garden departments at hardware stores

For soil, mulch, hoses and tools, a home center is often quicker than a nursery.

• The Home Depot at 1781 East Bayshore Road in East Palo Alto lists a garden center with plants and garden tools. It opens at 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 7 a.m. on Sunday. It also rents trucks for bulk bags.
• Hassett Ace Hardware on Alma Street lists a garden center department among its sections. It is handy for seeds, gloves and a replacement hose nozzle downtown.
• Ace Hardware of Mountain View at 2555 Charleston Road carries lawn and garden supplies, outdoor furniture and barbecues and sharpens mower blades.

Our hardware stores guide has hours and services for all three.

A Palo Alto planting calendar

Fall is the most underrated season. Native plants put down roots during the winter rains and need less summer watering in their first year. Spring is the busiest time at every nursery, so shop on a weekday if you can.

Tips for buying plants

• Know your sun and soil. Many Palo Alto yards sit on heavy clay. Ask staff which plants tolerate it, or amend the soil first.
• Buy small. Grassroots Ecology notes that natives in small containers often establish faster than larger ones.
• Plan for deer. Homes near the foothills often see deer. Native sale volunteers can point to deer-resistant choices.
• Bring a tarp. Soil and pots shed in the car. A tarp or old sheet saves cleanup.

For inspiration before you buy, walk the formal gardens at Filoli near Woodside. You can also browse Bay Area garden and estate tours. For cut flowers and houseplants, see our flowers and plants guide. Residents without a yard can apply for a plot in one of the city's five community gardens.

Frequently asked questions